PARIS, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- France's consumer price index (CPI) surged 3.4 percent year-on-year in October, accelerating from 3.1 percent in September, according to data released by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) on Friday.
The acceleration was mainly driven by rising energy prices, which surged 24.1 percent year-on-year in October, up from 21.3 percent in September, marking the fourth consecutive month of acceleration. Service prices also accelerated, rising 2.6 percent year-on-year, compared with 2.4 percent in the previous month.
Food prices increased 1.2 percent year-on-year, slowing from 1.4 percent in September. The decline in manufactured goods prices narrowed to 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent, while tobacco prices rose 3.3 percent, unchanged from the previous month.
Core inflation stood at 1.7 percent in October, up from 1.5 percent in September, INSEE said.
Since October, France has been shaken by a wave of nationwide protests, with farmers, trade unions, and students demanding relief from high fuel prices, inflation and public service cuts. Soaring fuel prices have fueled public discontent, raising household expenses and driving up transport and production costs across the economy. ■
